How an unlikely passenger rail project for Northern Ontario came to be, and why it calls almost all conventional thinking about trains in Canada into question.
I'd like to propose a different comparison for why this line makes sense over others. Regardless of cost, driving long distances in Northern Ontario is recognised as a dangerous and unpleasant activity by residents. Thus, the railroad is seen as a lifeline regardless of the state of roadways, to be compared with the cost of 4-laneing the highways.
Against this, most lines in other provinces don't compare. I would suggest only two with existing poor road connections that might:
- The Kettle Valley route, which unfortunately was even more prone to disruptions than the current highways, and would effectively require the originally proposed long tunnel under Tulameen Mountain to be built. $$$$$
I'd like to propose a different comparison for why this line makes sense over others. Regardless of cost, driving long distances in Northern Ontario is recognised as a dangerous and unpleasant activity by residents. Thus, the railroad is seen as a lifeline regardless of the state of roadways, to be compared with the cost of 4-laneing the highways.
Against this, most lines in other provinces don't compare. I would suggest only two with existing poor road connections that might:
- The Kettle Valley route, which unfortunately was even more prone to disruptions than the current highways, and would effectively require the originally proposed long tunnel under Tulameen Mountain to be built. $$$$$
- Saguenay.